Municipal elections are about much more than just choosing a political party. They determine who will make many of the decisions that directly affect daily life in Orihuela Costa for the following four years.
Orihuela City Council is responsible for a wide range of local services, including household refuse collection, street cleaning, road maintenance, parks and public spaces, municipal policing, beaches, local infrastructure and the allocation of council budgets.
Decisions taken at municipal level can influence how frequently streets are cleaned, where money is spent on repairs, which neighbourhoods receive improvements, and how quickly local problems are addressed.
For residents of La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig, Campoamor, Villamartín, and the wider Orihuela Costa, voting is an opportunity to influence the municipality’s priorities.
Have your say, why your vote matters in Orihuela Costa
If you live here, pay local taxes, and depend on municipal services, your vote gives you a voice in the decisions that affect your community every day. But just being registered on the Padrón does not mean that you will be entitled to vote in Spain’s next municipal elections.
Local elections are held on the fourth Sunday of May every four years, and the councillors elected in Orihuela will make decisions that directly affect communities throughout Orihuela Costa.
This is important for international residents ahead of the 2027 Spanish municipal elections, scheduled under Spain’s electoral calendar for Sunday 23rd May 2027. If you want to exercise your right to vote, you need to register your intentions on the electoral census between 1st December 2026 and 15th January 2027.
The electoral census is known as the “Censo Electoral de Extranjeros Residentes en España”, usually abbreviated to CERE. The registration window for non-EU international residents is short, and missing this vital deadline means that you won’t be able to exercise your right to vote in the spring 2027 local elections.
How can foreign residents register to vote in Orihuela Costa?
International residents can declare their intention to vote through the INE electronic office using Cl@ve, provided their NIE and municipal registration information have been correctly communicated to the electoral authorities. They may also complete the declaration in person at the Town Hall.
Citizens of other European Union member states resident in Orihuela Costa may vote in municipal elections provided that they are at least 18 years old on election day, registered on the Padrón, and have formally declared their intention to exercise their voting rights in Spain.
EU citizens can register their intention to vote at any time and do not need to wait for the 2027 election registration window. However, they must complete the declaration before the statutory electoral deadline.
This applies to nationals of all other EU member states, including citizens of Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Italy, and Portugal.
British and Norwegian nationals can vote in local elections
The Government of Spain has reciprocal agreements with the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Norway, allowing qualifying international residents in Spain to vote in municipal elections.
To qualify, a British or Norwegian citizen must hold the appropriate residence, be registered on the Padrón in Orihuela, and have resided legally and continuously in Spain for at least three years before applying for inclusion in the electoral census.
Applications for inclusion in the CERE electoral census should be made between Tuesday 1st December 2026 and Friday 15th January 2027. Check that your Padrón registration accurately reflects your current Orihuela Costa address before applying for your right to vote.
Unlike EU citizens, qualifying citizens from the UK and Norway must make a specific application for inclusion in the electoral census for every municipal election. Even if you’ve registered to vote before, you will need to register again to ensure your right to vote in 2027.
Which other non-EU nationalities can vote?
Spain also maintains reciprocal municipal voting agreements with Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Ecuador, Iceland, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Applicants must have been legally and continuously resident in Spain for at least five years before applying, possess the appropriate residence authorisation, and be registered on the Padrón in Orihuela Costa.
EU citizens can check and, where necessary, complete their declaration now. British, Norwegian and other qualifying non-EU citizens should prepare their documentation and submit their applications between 1st December 2026 and 15th January 2027.
With the municipal elections due on 23rd May 2027, completing the correct procedure in advance will ensure that eligible international residents of Orihuela Costa can have their say when the next Orihuela municipal government is elected.